Question #b7858

2 Answers
Dwight
Jan 6, 2017

Sodium #Na^+# and carbonate #CO_3^(2-)# (in a ratio of 2 to 1) make #Na_2CO_3#

Explanation:

All ionic solids (easily recognized as being the compounds of metals - along with #NH_4^+# is the only common polyatomic cation) will consist of a positive metal ion (written first in the formula of the compound, and stated first in the name of the comound) and a negative ion that can be monatomic, like #Cl^-, S^(2-)# or even #N^(3-)#.

The negative ion is frequently a polyatomic ion, meaning it consists of a number of atoms (bonded together covalently) but having one or more extra electrons. The negative ion is written second in the formula, and stated second in naming the compound.

The ratio of ions in the compound will be the simplest numbers that create a total charge of zero.

So sodium carbonate consists of two sodium ions #Na^+# and one carbonate #CO_3^(2-)# to make #Na_2CO_3#

anor277
Jan 6, 2017

#Na_2CO_3#.........

Explanation:

#Na_2CO_3#.........i.e. #CO_3^(2-)+2xxNa^+#..........

Under intense heat, the salt can decomposed to give sodium oxide and carbon dioxide:

#Na_2CO_3(s) + Delta rarr NaO(s) + CO_2(g)uarr#

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